Antenna roof mount support



Nov. 5, 1968 D. BURNS J 3,409,256

ANTENNA ROOF MOUNT SUPPORT Filed March 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

LOREN D. BURNS ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 D. BURNS 3,409,256

ANTENNA ROOF MOUNT S UPPORT Filed March 7, 1966 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

LOREN D. BURNS United States Patent 3,409,256 ANTENNA ROOF MOUNT SUPPORTLoren D. Burns, Douglass, Kans. 67039 Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No.532,320 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-43) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates to a mounting means for an antenna mast support, :and moreparticularly, to an antenna support attachable to the roof of a house.Still more specrfically, this invention relates to an antenna supportmountable on a house roof and laterally supported by cable memberswhereby no holes need be drilled in the roof for installation :andsupport. Additionally, this invention relates to an antenna roof mountsupport combination having a bracket means with downwardly diverging legmeans mountable upon the upper surface of a house roof; cable connectormeans connectable to :an upright antenna mast mounted in the bracketmeans; cable members having one end connected to the connect-or meansand the other end securable by clamp members to the outer periphery ofthe house roof; and means for securing the bracket means to the mast topresent an upright rigid structure connectable to the house roof withoutthe necessity of drilling holes therein.

Conventional antenna support means are normally attached to theuppermost portions of the roof of houses by the use of heavy bracketsand clamps secured directly to the roof surface. This results innumerous holes in the roof each subject to possible water leakage withresultant damage to the Walls and ceilings within the house. The priorart antennas are rigidly secured to the supporting structure andtherefore cannot be readily moved to another location on the roof forbetter signal reception or removed for transport and installation onanother house. Additionally, removal of the prior art devices leaves aplurality of holes in the roof surface which must be repaired.

In a preferred specific embodiment of the invention, the antenna supportassembly includes a basic frame adapted to straddle opposite sides of aV-s'haped house roof. An elongated mast or pole used to support atelevision or radio antenna and the like is mountable on the basic framefor support in an upright position. The assembled frame, mast, andantenna are secured against lateral upward movement by a plurality ofcable assemblies connected between the mast and the outer peripheraledge of the house roof.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the basic frameconsists of a pair of cooperating plate members having upper clampsections and lower downwardly diverging leg supports adapted to straddlethe opposite sides of a V-shaped roof top. The mast is rigidly securedbetween the clamp sections with the lower end thereof supported on theupper end surface of the leg supports. A plurality of cable assembliesconnected to the mast hold the mast and frame assembly against upwardand lateral movement. The cable assemblies are secured to the outerperipheral edge of the roof as above-mentioned in the first embodiment.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new roof mounting means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new support means forantenna masts mountable on the roofs of houses.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an antenna supportmeans mountable upon the roof of houses without necessitating thedrilling of holes and securing to the roof surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide an antenna roof mountsupport means that can be easily and quickly assembled and readilyattached to the uppermost portion of a house roof.

One other object of this invention is to provide an antenna roof mountsupport means rigidly secured against vertical and horizontal movement.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved antennaroof mounting means having a plurality of flexible leg support memberswhereby the assembly has a shock absorbing characteristic.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an antenna roof mountsupport means that is readily assembled, readily removable for transfer,and economical to manufacture.

Further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings of preferred specific embodiments of the newantenna roof mount support means of this invention in which:

FIG. 1 is .a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of ahouse embodying a preferred specific embodiment of the antenna roofmount support assembly of this invention attached to the house roof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a mast and anantenna roof mount support of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustratingthe supporting frame of the antenna roof mount support of thisinvention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2illustrating a connector means of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower end of a cable.assembly of this invention secured to the outer periphery of the houseroof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a mast connector plate of thisinvention mounted on a mast and connected to cable assemblies;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second preferredembodiment of this invention similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a. mast and aconnector plate assembly of the second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged top plan view taken along line 99 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the second embodiment shown inFIG. 8 illustrated as mounted on the uppermost portion of a house roof.

In the following is set forth a discussion and description of preferredspecific embodiments of the new antenna roof mount support of myinvention, made with reference to the drawings whereon the same numeralsare used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the drawings,discussion and description of this disclosure are not to limit the scopeof my invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the antenna roof mount assembly ofthis invention, indicated generally at 15, is mounted on a roof 16 of ahouse 18, and includes a basic support frame assembly 20 secured to thelower end of a mast 22 to form a mast and frame assembly 23. A connectorplate 25 secured to an upper portion of the mast 22 and a plurality ofcable assemblies 26 extended between the connector plate 25 and theouter peripheral edge of the roof 16 provides for vertical and lateralstability of the mast and frame assembly 23. A multi-direc- 3. tionalantenna 24 is secured to the upper end of the mast 22.

The basic support frame assembly 20 as shown in FIG. 2, includes a pairof leg members 27 and 28 interconnected at the uppermost ends by a clampor bracket assembly 30 and the mid portions of the leg members 27 and 28are interconnected by a brace assembly 32. As the leg members 27 and 28are identical, only leg member 27 need be described in detail. The legmember 27 is pref erably constructed of a tubular aluminum materialhaving opposite end sections 34 bent laterally from a base section 36towards each other so as to be of substantially isosceles triangularshape. The terminal ends of the leg member 27 are flattened, formed withholes, and angularly displaced from the end sections 34 for reasons tobecome obvious.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket assembly 30 comprises a pair of plates38 having right angular shaped center portions 39 integral at oppositeends with connector portions 41. The plates 38 are assembled in a faceto face relationship having the terminal ends of the leg members 27 and28 against the outer surfaces of the connector portions 41. Bolt members43 are extended through aligned holes in the terminal ends and theconnector portions 41 whereby the mast 22 is mountable between thecenter portions 39 in a clamped relationship.

The brace assembly 32 includes a pair of arm members 44 of irregularshape each having end sections 46 secured as by bolts 47 to respectiveones of the end sections 34 of the leg members 27 and 28. The armmembers 44 have mid sections 49 of V-shape in substantial verticalalignment with respective ones of the plates 38 of the bracket assembly30 whereby the lower end portion of the mast 22 is mountable between themid sections 49 and held in a clamped rigid position by bolt members 51.

It is seen, therefore, that the basic frame assembly 20 is usable tosupport the mast 22 in a vertical position having the lower end sectionthereof rigidly clamped by the brace assembly 32 and the bracketassembly 30. The parallel base portions 36 of the leg members 27 and 28are substantially spaced to add lateral stability to the mast and frameassembly 23.

In the use and operation of the invention, the mast and frame assembly23 is mounted or straddled on the upper edge of the house roof 16 withthe leg members 27 and 28 on opposite sides thereof. In the mountedposition, the mast extends vertically of the upper ridges of the houseroof 16 and substantially perpendicular thereto. In order to secure themast and frame assembly 23 against the roof 16, the connector plate 25is secured to an upper portion of the mast 22 and a plurality of cableassemblies 26 are secured to the plate 25. As shown in FIG. 6, theconnector plate 25 has a cylindrical body 53 mounted about the mast 22having a laterally extended flange 55 with four spaced holes 57 therein.Each cable assembly 26 includes a cable 59 having one end mounted withone of the holes 57 and the opposite end secured to a U- shaped roofclamp 61. (FIGS. 1 and The roof clamps 61 are mounted about a portion ofthe peripheral edge of the roof 16 whereby the four cable assemblies 26cooperate to anchor the mast and frame assembly 23. Intermediateopposite ends of the cable 59 are mounted conventional turn buckles 63so that the position and tension of the cable 59 is readily adjustableon rotation of the turn buckles 63.

It is obvious that the cables 69 can be of any suitable material such asrope, steel cable, wire, etc. However, the use of glass rope has provento be most satisfactory. Preferably, the leg members 27 and 28 are of aresilient nature thereby providing a shock absorbing characteristic tothe support frame assembly 20 which effectively resists damage fromtornadoes, high winds, etc. Additionally, it is obvious to one skilledin the art that numerous types of: roof clamps and anchors can be usedto secure the lower ends of the cables 59 depending on the type of roofedge, etc.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS.7-10, a basic frame assembly 65 includes a pair of identical platemembers 67 having leg sections 69 integral with upper clamp sections 71angularly disposed therefrom. The leg sections 69 are of a rectangularshape having lower curved support portions 73 adapted for contact withthe surface of the roof 16. The clamp sections 71 are provided withlaterally bent mid sections 75 of V-shape adapted to contact and clampthe mast 22 therebetween. The plate members 67 can readily be producedby a stamping process with ridges 77 and projections 78 formed to addsufficient strength thereto. A plurality of spaced holes in the clampsection 71 are adapted to receive bolts 79. Additionally, a plurality ofspaced punched holes 81 in the support portion 73 having downwardlyprojected edges provide a rough non-skid contacting surface.

In the use and operation of the second embodiment, namely the frameassembly 65, the mast 22 is placed between the plate member 67 with thelower portion of the mast supported on the upper surfaces of the legsections 69. The bolts 79 are actuated to rigidly clamp the mast 22between the mid sections 75. As shown in FIG. 10, this mast and frameassembly, indicated generally at 83, is mounted on the roof 16 so as tostraddle the opposite sides thereof. The connector plate 25 and thecable assemblies 26 are thereupon connected to the mast 22 and theperiphery of the roof 16, respectively, as previously described in thefirst embodiment assembly. The contacting rough surfaces of the legsections 69 hinders lateral sliding movement of the mast and frameassembly 83 on the roof surface. The cable assemblies 26 maintaindownward and lateral force on the mast and frame assembly 83 to rigidlysupport the same on the house roof 16. The angular relationship of theclamp sections 71 and the leg sections 69 results in a flexiblestructure having shock absorbing characteristics thereby preventingdamage by wind storms and the like.

The preferred embodiments of my invention presents new and novel antennaroof mount assemblies that can be easily and readily installed withoutthe necessity of drilling holes in the supporting surface. Thesestructures can be readily removed for installation in other locations bythe typical home owner, and presents a neat appearing antenna packagehaving new and novel shock absorbing characteristics.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, various constructions and modifications can be made within thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mounting means for use in supporting a vertically extended mast onthe upper portion of a house roof, comprising:

(a) cable connector means for rigid connection to a mast;

(b) a plurality of anchoring members each having a hook-like portionsecurable to the outer periphery of a house roof in anchoringrelationship thereto;

(c) a plurality of cable members each having one end portion secured tosaid connector means and the opposite end portion secured to one of saidanchoring members;

(d) support frame means mountable on the house roof and having means toreceive and hold the lower end portion of the mast, said frame meanscomprising a a pair of leg members, each having opposite end sectionsbent laterally from a base section toward each other so as to form asubstantially isosceles triangle, the terminal ends of each of said legmembers being flattened and having an angularly displaced aperturetherein;

(e) bracket means secured to the terminal ends of said (b) a laterallyextended connector portion secured to said tubular body member, saidconnector portion having a plurality of spaced holes adjacent the outeredge thereof whereby the upper ends of said cable members are mountedthrough said holes and secured to said connector portion; and

bers of said support frame means; and

(f) brace means intermediate the leg members of said support frame meansfor supporting the lower end portion of the mast when mounted and forsecuring 10 the mast to said leg members of said support frame means andproviding lateral stability to the mast, said brace means comprising apair of oppositely disposed arm members having their end sectionssecured to (c) a bolt member extended transversely of said tubular bodyand the mast to rigidly secure said tubular body and thus said connectorportion in a selected vertical position to the mast.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS said leg members of said supportframe means, said 15 arm members having angular mid sections to receive2717751 9/1955 Kus.v therebetween said mast and which are in substan-2733031 1/1956 M l 5 tial vertical alignment with the angularly shaped2774809 12/1956 B i i center portions of said plate members of saidbracket ur at means. 20 FOREIGN PATENTS 2. The mounting means accordingto claim 1 wherein 249,149 2/1961 Australia said cable connector meanscomprises:

(a) a tubular body mountable about the mast for axial JOHN PETO, PrimaryExaminer. ad ustable movement relative thereto;

